Riley Gillis, a recent graduate of Hug High School and an honors student at the University of Nevada, Reno, has been awarded a prestigious Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) fellowship by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Gillis earned this recognition after two of his research papers were accepted for publication in prestigious journals affiliated with the University of Nevada, Reno and Columbia University in New York.
The NIH MARC fellowship is only awarded to a select few undergraduate students across the country. It provides recipients with partial or full tuition coverage, a $15,000 per year stipend, and complete coverage of travel and research expenses. The aim of the fellowship is to support the development of the next generation of biomedical researchers by enabling them to conduct research on a global scale.
In return for the fellowship, students commit to pursuing a graduate-level biomedical degree. In Gillis’s case, he plans to pursue an MD-PhD. This commitment demonstrates his dedication to advancing medical research and making a significant impact in the field.
Gillis, a Reno native, achieved an extraordinary feat by publishing his first peer-reviewed research paper in the Nevada State Undergraduate Research Journal (NSURJ) shortly after graduating from Hug High School in 2022. Typically, scientists are not able to publish as the first author until their final year of graduate school. This accomplishment speaks to Gillis’s exceptional abilities and dedication to his research.
His second manuscript, which focuses on providing recommendations for preventing Ebola in sub-Saharan Africa, will be released later this month through the Columbia Scientist (CUSJ) at Columbia University. This demonstrates Gillis’s commitment to addressing important global health issues and finding innovative solutions.
When asked about his background, Gillis shared his personal experiences, saying, “As a chronically ill child with limited access to health insurance after my parents lost their jobs and our house in bankruptcy during the recession, I understand the pressing need for equitable, upstream methods for disease prevention in this country.” He emphasized the importance of working towards public-health-oriented solutions to control global diseases, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currently, Gillis is conducting research at the Center for Molecular Medicine, where he works on developing and purifying monoclonal antibodies for the production of rapid diagnostic tests. He has the unique opportunity to learn and grow under the mentorship of Dr. David AuCoin, the Chair of the Microbiology & Immunology Department at UNR Med. The AuCoin Laboratory focuses on biodefense and studies some of the most dangerous pathogens and diseases known to mankind, including Ebola, Anthrax, Ricin, and COVID-19.
Although Gillis is already in his senior year at the University, he plans to continue his studies for another two or three years before pursuing a PhD or medical scientist (MD-PhD) training program. He acknowledges the challenging road ahead but expresses gratitude for the opportunities and support he has received from his mentors, the University of Nevada, Reno, the NIH, and his family.
Riley Gillis’s accomplishments and dedication to advancing biomedical research make him a shining example of young talent and ambition in the scientific community. His work has the potential to make lasting contributions to the field of medicine, especially in the prevention and control of global diseases.
(Note: Riley Gillis contributed to the reporting of this article.)